Pipe pushing machine



June 9, 1931. H. A. JOHNSON PIPE PUSHYING MACHINE 4 sheets-sheet 1 v Filed Nov. 16, 1927 QN. NN

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t P IPEPUSHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 16, 1927 4 sheets-sheet 2 mim la Y June 9, 1931- l H. A. JoHNsN v 1,809,342

PIPE PUsHINc- MACHINE Filed Nov. 16, 1927 '4 Sheets-Sheet 5 wmv/g .93# f U1 w/ Q June 9, 1931. H. A. JOHNSON PIPE PUSHING MACHINE Filed NOV. 16, 192;?

4 sneets-she'et 4 i Patented June 9, 1931 if" l i filifirfiz' iii-nine L NDIS l My .inventon rela-tes toa rachirieforlay- Dg5gp11pe by Va Inethodknown fas.fpipe`push- It relates more particularly to a mechanism 5 -for pushinghouse servicepi-pes and the vlike ytobe connected rfrom the 'mainline tothe ill,- terior of a building, or 'for the'plaeing of yany species of .pipe where there are obstructions 'to JAbe encountered Nwhen .digging 1an or- 10 dinary trench. The usual 'diliiculty in 'in stalling service pipesi's that the pavement in the fstreetrrr'iust be torn upand this Ais `an ex'- p'ersive and unsatisfactory operation". j

The principal object of Emy invention is to provide 'an improved means -for installing such pipes. .1 -Aiother'objet is to provide a mechanismquiclrlygmovable from fone place lto another for installing service pipes. .Ano-ther Objectis to providefa k'Ineohanisrn of this class which can be :quickly 'put in readiness for performing a p ipe jpushing operation at 4one locati-on', Iand veryiquickiy removed and transported to -`another `lofc'aztioii when the pushing loperati-on is completed.

notlierr obj ect to utilize-ordinary tractor p 'ower for pushing pipes in the manner described. Y

Another "obct vis to proyid 5a 'simplemechanicalfstructure adapted to be jcombinedi with a 'tractrftoips pipes without lthe necessi/ty 'of -digging a pipe trench.

' Afnother ob'ect is vto provide 'an A improved v mechanically 'operated pipe pusher..

Another object is to provide in :combination with such improved pusher, improvedineims for handling 'and operating ythe same. p

z'In accom li'shing my invention, 'I provide' a frame mounted n a 'tractor of'donventional design` and having a .pipe 'pushing nunit form apart oi the 'same 'and pivoted thereto, the pushing 'unit 'adapted 'to be supe ported above 'the street to facilitate move-v 4b ered into t'a trench tov receive apipe and ioic'e' ment .of a pipe engaging carriage forming av vention';

section to bring out the v m'en't of the tractor, but vmounted 'to -beflow.

.partof the unit,` 'the .conneot'ion from the .drums tothe Y Carriage. being by means of .a rpair ofcables one wound on each dru'rnand connected-to opposite ends ofl the carriage whereby reciprocatorymovement is possible. 55

Other objectsandfeatures of theinventjion `will be apparent from a consideration ofthe following detailed description taken with the accompanying ilr'awings-7 wherein .Fi-glis a fragmentary plan view of a 'me- `chine embodying the main features of my in- F ig. `Q ,isa plan-section showing somefot the details of the pipe pushing unit;

ig. 3 is side elevationalv v iew; .V liseis an 'enlarged .fragmentary Portion 0f lig- 3, Wit-h the, apparatus@ ripe. laying POStOh, e .portion thereof being Shore. Y

arrangementA of ,1. parte; s. 7

. F'sf 'iS a :Planetionshowng thsmolmt: ing in operationof the .pipe engaging Carnage-tiff 2 y 'l- Fig. 6` isasetional view taken along the 7 5 Fig. 94 4is la f rag'nrfler'itary,. seotionalV showing a bail for .i .vff s y .Fis lois adeta'lof e pini@ QlllOWr @dairied'to-beused when the `last section of ypipe is being laid.. 85 Thek embodiment.. ShQWH .in ...the dr'ewees; includes any usual-iam .Offtraetriiloidd with reaiywheels 1 1., frontwheels 12,1 a usual form; of internal combustion engine Iprotect- Y edunderthe hoodlf and `a.steering 'mechanism including a l.stdering olumn V1i. The usualtractor .chassis is provided towhich secureduprghts lf3-:1,6 and 17e-17 secured toan assembly framelS', towhicli is also secured bra ce 'rods 19f19 ffor .supporting a 95 boom 2 1:V The boom comprises twomeinbersi with aligned pivots, andioperating together y as i sin-gie ineinber. A i pair of 'tie Vrods 2?@#22xteed-vff0m' .the assembly frasi@ i8. and connect-,with a counterweig'ht 23 extendlifting the pipe laying p.

ing from the rear of the tractor and compensating for the load suspended from the boom 21.

At the base of the boom, a pair of channels 24 are pivoted and -have their other ends pivotally connected with a pair of channel uprights 26 integrally secured at one end to a pair of horizontalY channels 27 forming lthe. main frame yof the pipe laying unit proper, and having a second pair of upright channels 28 at the other end, end plates 29 and 31 being secured to the ends of the channels 27 and to the side edges of the upright channels At the front of the tractor, a power driven drum mechanism is provided Yincluding a drum housing 30 yforming a part of the main frame and drums 32 and 33 driven by a suitable gear mechanism through a chain 34 which receives its power from the tractor engine.- The drum 32 is provided with a cable 36 which formsa pari of a block and tackle mechanism 37 suspended from the top of the boom and provided with a hook 38 for engaging a bail 39, the bail 39 being` adapted to form a connection with'the pipe laying unit so that this entirerunit including the connecting channels 24 may be raised upwardly in the manner shown inv Fig. 1 so that the entire mechanism may be transported from placeto place by driving the Vtractor in the usual manner. n

'Fig 4 shows the position which the mechanism assumes when a pipe is being laid.

Thetractor restsupon the paving 41 adjacent the curbing 42 and immediately in front of a narrow and relatively small trench 43 which has previously been' dug in a suitable lo'cationas forexample, in the parkway between the street and sidewalk. rlhe cable 36 is payed out to permit thepipe laying unit proper to descend tothe bottom ofthe trench where it assumes afstrictly horizon-A tal position as shown. The bail 39 VVis then disconnected andthe bloclrandtackle 37 em ployed to return to pipe laying carriage(` to starting positionrin a manner "which will be made clear.v i

A pipe drivingcarriage 44 is provided with two double pair of rollers46, the top set of rollers riding along the topV of the v upper channel ,flange and the bottom v set riding Valong a liner 47 which issecured ththe flange to provideabetter trackfor the rollers. The carriage hasva plurality of sheaves :adapte-d to cooperate with sheaves 49carried;V on a transverse shaft 51 supported between the channels 27 at the end thereof and over which' sheaves, a cable v52 is trained, extendingv therefrom o ver anupper sheave `53 disposed between the channels thence over a second sheave 54 at the opposite end ofthe pipe lay` ingunit whence it is takenf'upon the drum 33. The pipe engaging end of the carriage 44 has acircular recess 56 which'is adapted to receive a pipe section 57 to force it through the earth as shown in Fig. 4. The first pipe to be pushed into the ground is provided with a suitable head to facilitate its entering the ground and to prevent the plugging of the pipe with earth. l find that the use of a reducing coupling 58 and a small plug 59 answers the purpose satisfactorily. As one pipe is pushed in, the second pipe is joined thereto by a standard pipe coupling 61. The cable 62 is secured to the pipe engaging carriage at 63, and extends over a sheave 64 with its opposite end connected to a hook 38.

l ln the operation of the mechanism, the trenches '43 are previously dug in a position in which a pipe is to be laid and the proper number of lengths of pipe 57 are placed at the trench to be laid by the machine., riihe operators of the vmachine are given a route to follow and drive along the .street 41 at a normal rate of speed until they reach an open trench where they stop long enough to lay the pipe. rlhey then proceed to the next trench and continue the operation, with ordinary speed of operation and conditions, laying a good many hundred feet of pipe in one day.` p

l/Vhen. reaching a trench, the tractor is driven up to it andthe pipe laying unit lowered,k inv the manner described. The bail 39 is then removed from c-onnection with the pipe laying unit and also removed from the hook 38. This hook is then connected to the cable 62 and the drum 32 driven until the carriage 44 is'in approximately the position shown in Fig. 4. The length of pipe 57 is 33 actuated to draw the carriage toward the end of the pipe until it engages in the circular aperture 56. The pipe is then lined up in all directions so as to point directly to the spot where it is to emerge. The drum 33 is again turned to force the pipe 57 inwardly as far as the carriage will driveb it. The carriage is then withdrawn again by operating the drum 32, the second length of pipel 57 connected to the first by the coupling 61 and the operation repeated. When the last length of pipe is reached, a follower 66 (Fig` 10) is inserted in the free endv of the pipe, the other extending end of thefollower being engaged by the carriage tor drivethc pipe as much farther as desired. i Y

If desired, guides may be provided for the pipe toinsure its movement in the proper direction. In this connection, I show the end plate 29 cut away at 29a to form such a guide. I haveV found, however, in actual practice that it is advisable to level by hand, no matter how accurately the guides are placed because irregularities in the street on which the tractor is resting and other contributing causes, maythrow the pipe laying unit slightly out of'line.` For this reason, practically a guide is of not very great consequence because the lpipe must be lined up Vthen placed against the ground and the drum anyway to beginfwith,and after it has penetrated the earth some distance, the earth Yit-vr self acts as a guide. l l

Although I have described the details of one embodiment of my invention', it is obvious that the inventionis not restricted to this particular form and no limitationis madey ried by the vehicle, means for driving thedrums from the power take off means and cables connected to said drums and to opposite ends of said carriage for operating the same.

2. A pipe pushing machine for forcing a service pipe from a trench through a section of earth, said machine comprising a tractor, a super-structure carried at one end of the tractor, a boom supported by said superstructure and forming a part there-of, an auxiliary boom having one end pivoted at the base of the boom, a pipe pushing unitl having one end pivoted to the opposite end of lsaid auxiliary boom, and means for suspending said unit and auxiliary boom from the outer end' of said boom to raise the unit for transportation by said tractor or to lower the y same into operating position in a trench.

f 3. The combination deiinedin claim 2 with a counterweight on said tractor and a tie rodi forming a part ofy said super-structure, and

connected from sai'dsuperstructure to said counterweight; Y A z 4. A pipe pushing machine for forcinga service pipe from a trench through a section of earth, said rmachine comprising a vehicle,

a superstructure carried by. the vehicle, a

boom forming a part of the super-structure,

an auxiliary boom'pivoted at one endvto the kbase of 'the boom, a pipe pushing unit connected to the opposite end of said auxiliary boom, and means adjustably connecting the auxiliary boom and pipe pushing unit to said boom. Y

5. In a pipe pushing machine, ya tractor havingpower take-off means, a driving drum Y mountedron the tractor, driving means from the power take-off means to the drum, a pipe pushing unit with a pivoted connection to the tractor, an'd'cable means connected to the pipe pushing unit'andactuated by the drum j for operating the pipe pushing unit.l

n 6. In a pushing machine, a power driven vehicle adapted for relatively rapid ymovement from one position to another and lhaving power take-oft' means thereon, a pushing unit carried by the vehicle, means forming a pivetal j ,r'ioniiectiofn from the "vehicle tothe 'lnit position and assisting in supporting the same yduring transportation, said means includin cable operated means foroperating sail pushing linfa-amil meansV for driving said cable from said power take-offi means.I

a pushing machine, aV framework in- '.Cluding 'a' super-structure, a` boomg'pivot'ed at onefend tothe'framework, a pushing unit* lpivoted to the opposite end of the boom, a carriage slidably 'm'ountedy en the pushing unit, a pair `of drums rotatably mounted on i ythe framework, cable'sonthe drumsl and hav- U g f ingA connections tefpposteendsjof the can ','ri'age for operating` thev same,ja source of lpedw'er positioned o'ii th-eframework and driv- `V ing connections fromsai'd source ofpower to 'saiddrums'a'nd said boom. y

85111.@ Pipe Pushingmachi'ne, a powelvoperated vehicle provided with power take,-v off means, a pipe pushing unit having a 'pivotedconnection to said vehicle, a drum frame f secured to the vehicle, a pair of drums ca'rried by .said frame,rcables on thedrums coni ne'cted to operate said pushing unit andfd'riving connect-ions from the 'power 'take-'off meansV-tosaid drum. Y y I n Y l 9;'In a pipe pushin machine, a `pushing unit includinghorizonta'lly disposed frame members, pipe'sii'pporting and guiding means thereon, a carriage movable on the frame members, a plurality of sheaves disposed at the ends of the frame members, cables trained' around thelsheaves and connected at two points to the carraige for advancing or withdrawing the same. y l0. The combination with a pipe pushing unit as denedlin claim 9 of a transporting power operated vehicle with power take-off means, a frame on the vehicle and including a housing for a pair of drums, a boom having one end pivoted to the frame and the other y Y end pivotally secured to the pushing unit,

` one of said cables being connected torone ofV the drums and the pivoted boom and extending along the same for direct connection' to" the carriage to operate thecarriage in oneA` direction, the other cableextending from the'otherv drumandover the framework to support, raise or lower the pushing unit and pivoted boom and also adapted for-making a connection to the carriage for movement of the carriage in a reverse direction, and y,

driving connection between the drums `and said power take-oft' means.

11. Apparatus of the class described comprising abed adapted to be placed in a trench,v Y

said bed having guide Hanges, a pipe pushing member guided by said flanges and slidable longitudinally of said bed, sheaves at onel end of' said bed, additional sheaves carfried by said slidable member, a cable passing over said sheaves and a power actuated means for winding said cable to move said slidable member along said bed for forcing a pipe or the like into the earth at one end of the trench. 12. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bed member formed of a pair of 5 spaced longitudinal members having upper inwardly directed flanges, sheaves adjacent each end of said bed member, a pipe pushing member disposedfin said bed ,and having rollers coacting with said flanges for guiding said pushing member, sheaves carried by said pushing member, and a power actuated cable passing around all of said sheaves for driving said pushing member. v

13. Pipe pushing mechanism comprising a bed formed of spaced longitudinal iianged members, end plates secured to said members, a power actuated pushing member movable longitudinally of said bed, said pushing member having rollers coacting with said 2o flanges for guiding said member, the forward end plate having a recess the bottom kwall of which serves as a guide for the pipe being placed and a socket device on said pushing member for engaging the rear end of said pipe, said other end plate serving to abut the rear wall of a trench to prevent counter movement of the bed during the pushing operation. K

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 14th dar of October, 1927.

' 'HARRY A, JOHNSON. 

